3 min readMumbaiMay 19, 2014 01:51 AM IST
First published on: May 19, 2014 at 01:51 AM IST
Patients and medical students allege that the fans are causing air pollution, too.
Jumbo exhaust fans installed at the base kitchens at CST and Mumbai Central have turned out to be a nuisance for patients at the neighbouring St George Hospital and residents respectively, with complaint letters being dashed off to the Central and Western Railway administration to take measures to curtail the noise.
While the base kitchen at Mumbai Central was inaugurated in 2013, another state-of-the-art base kitchen was inaugurated at CST on March 8 by Sunil Kumar Sood, General Manager, Central Railway.
The base kitchen was started to provide good quality and affordable food to suburban and long-distance railway passengers. In order to remove the smell of food from kitchens and facilitate better ventilation, two jumbo exhaust fans were installed at CST and three at Mumbai Central.
Patients, staff and medical students at St George hospital, next to the base kitchen at CST, claim that the fans are not just noisy but air-polluting too. Right behind the kitchen is a wall next to which there are quarters for St George hospital staff and a hostel for medical students.
Dagdu Padwal, a class IV employee, who stays near the wall said, “There is a lot of disturbance due to the base kitchen, especially for students. They are unable to study due to the loud noise.”
“I have got several complaints from our staff including a representation dated May 2 from the hospital union. On May 15, I wrote to the Chief Public Relations officer, Central Railway to solve this problem.’’
A railway staff member said, “Many officials were against the idea of starting a base kitchen next to the hospital. An alternative site had been suggested near platform 18 since the area was isolated and would not have disturbed anybody,’’ Dr J B Bhavani, superintendent, St George hospital said.
When contacted, Mukesh Nigam, DRM, Mumbai division, Central Railway said, “I am unaware of this problem as no complaints have been received by me from the hospital. We will try and resolve the problem.’’
Railway officers residing in a building near the base kitchen at Mumbai Central find themselves facing similar problems.
“The noise is unbearable and we have to yell and talk to each other even when we are in the same room,” complained a resident of the 20-storey building, comprising of 40 flats and 40 house-help quarters.
“The kids are unable to study due to the unbearable noise. We have complained to the administration, however, nothing has changed,” said another resident.
Sharat Chandrayan, Chief Public Relations Officer, Western Railway, said, “If a complaint is made, the administration will look into it.”
(With inputs by Priyal Dave)
Patients and medical students allege that the fans are causing air pollution, too.
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